[JURIST] US District Judge Jack B. Weinstien Thursday dismissed a lawsuit filed on behalf of millions of Vietnamese that claim American chemical companies committed war crimes by supplying the military with Agent Orange, a chemical agent containing dioxin, a highly toxic substance that causes cancer and birth defects. In a lengthy opinion [text, PDF], Weinstein stated there is no basis for the claims under US or international law. Plaintiffs in the case argued that dioxin was banned by international rules of war. Weistein's ruling says the chemical could not be considered banned poisons under international rules of war, and further states the plaintiffs failed to proved Agent Orange caused their injuries. Over 10,000 US war veterans already receive payments related to Agent Orange. Read the settlement agreement provisions in that case. Lawyers for the plaintiffs say they will appeal. AP has more.